Folkestone 1814

Editor: This is "Folkestone" by Luke Clennell, currently in the Tate Collection. It feels very serene, with the figures on the shore. What do you see in the composition of this piece? Curator: Note the careful arrangement of forms – the rhythmic repetition of the boats' masts, the contrasting textures of the water and the cliffs. Observe how the artist's use of line creates depth and guides the viewer's eye through the scene. Editor: So, it's less about the subject and more about how the artist puts it together? Curator: Precisely. Clennell manipulates form to create a self-referential aesthetic experience, a world constructed of lines and tones rather than a mirror of reality. Editor: I never thought about it that way; it focuses you on the artistic choices. Curator: Indeed; hopefully it's made you more attentive to the interplay of form and content.